Spout and cap for a container



Nov. 3, 1959 KRAUTKRKMER 2,911,128

SPOUT AND CAP FOR A CONTAINER Filed Oct. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov.3, 1959 A. KRAUTKRKMER 2,911,128

SPOUT AND CAP FOR A CONTAINER Filed Oct. '7, 1952 2 SheetsSheet 2 /nvan/or dda'm vWrau/A ram:

United States PatentO SPOUT AND CAP FOR A CONTAINER Adam Krautkrfimer,Budenheim (Rhine), Germany Application October 7, 1952, Serial No.313,387 Claims priority, application Germany October 22, 1951 6 Claims.(Cl. ZZZ- 543) This invention relates to a closure for containers, moreparticularly to such closures which while in their closing positionpermit a partial emptying of the containers.

Tubes, cans, canisters, barrels, carboys, bottles, and

7 similar containers are provided with closures to close the containeropening for transportation and storage but also to permit an occasionalpartial removal of the contents. Such closures usually consist ofadischarge nozzle as in the case of containers or tubes for lighterfluid, of screw caps for cans, of lids for barrels and drums, ofstoppers for bottles, etc.

Aside from stoppers, the known closures are mostly made from the samematerial as the container proper. Their application requires the use ofpacking material and often several operations, all of which causesrelatively high costs.

Screw caps or stoppers when used for partial discharges of the contentsare frequently lost.

The known closures do not guarantee the contents of the container to befully delivered.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome all of theshortcomings of the conventional closures of the type referred to.

To the accomplishment of this object and other more detailed objectswhich will become clear hereinafter, my invention consists in a closurefor containers, its elements, and the relation of these elements one tothe other, as are more particularly described in the specification andsought to be defined in the claims.

The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of the upper part of acontainer and of its closure in closing position, the closure being adischarge nozzle according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the cap of the discharge nozzle of Fig. 1 as a separatepart;

Fig. '3 is a sectioned side elevation of a can closure embodyingfeatures of a modified closure;

Fig. .4 is a plan view of the closure of Fig. 3, the cap being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a sectioned side elevation of another modification of a canclosure;

Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned side elevation of a further modificationof a can closure; and

Fig. 7 is a sectioned side elevation of a bottle closure according tothe invention.

The discharge nozzle 1 of a container 2 is made from a material, such assynthetic resins or other synthetic material, acid resistant rubber(Buna), etc., that can be deformed under pressure and will resume theoriginal shape when the pressure is released. The lower end of thedischarge nozzle 1 comprises a rooflike flanged section 3, a collar 5,and a constricted section 4 between 3 and 5.

The opening in the container top 6 is surrounded by an angularlyprovided flanged rim 7 which snaps into the depression or constriction 4when the discharge nozzle is set in place. The flanged rim 7 is firmlyheld 2,911,128 Patented Nov. 3, 1959 ice . cut off in a known manner.

The discharge nozzle is closed by a cap 9 which is preferably made fromthe same material as the discharge nozzle and is firmly connected bymeans of a thin resilient rod 10 with the lower end of the nozzle, forinstance, the flanged section 3. Thus, the cap may be temporarilyremoved without danger of loss and without rendering the putting inplace and the taking ofi diflicult.

The connection rod 10a may form a ring 11 at its lower free end, asshown in Fig. 2, which ring is clamped fast between the flange 3 and thecontainer top 6 when the nozzle is set in place.

Upon filling the container 2, the lower end of the nozzle 1 is obliquelyintroduced into the opening in the container top 6, and by applyingpressure centrally, the

' collar 5 is completely forced into the opening whereupon the rim 7snaps into the depression or groove 4 of the nozzle. 7

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3,

the closure illustrated being suitable for cans, drums and opening ofthe body 12 is closed by athin, easily destructible wall 13, such as atearing membrane. The membrane is conveniently provided with a tearingflap 14.

The cap 9 is integrally connected with the flange 3" by means of theelastic rod 10'.

From Fig. 3 it will be seen that the flange 3' of the closure body 12 isboth upwardly and inwardly relieved to form the constriction 4'. Theflange 3' inclines, therefore, in a downward direction. When the closureis installed and the offset flange 7 snaps into the constriction, theflange 3, due to its downward inclination and the greater pressure thusexerted on the container top 6, will ensure a particularly tight seal,this seal being effected besides the seal effected by the flange 7 andthe constriction 4'.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the cap 9" is secured to the body 12"by means of the threading 15. The rod 10", at one end, is integrallyconnected to the flange 3", and at its other end it is. fastened bymeans 3 7 9b is integrally connected with the body 12b by means of aresilient strip 10b. The cap 9b is provided on its bottom with a thintearing strap 18 which, in the sealed condition, is cemented to the body12b. The tearing is preferably equipped with a tearing membrane cor-'responding to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and with a cap 9c carrying aconnecting rod 10c.

It is believed that the construction and handling of my containerclosure, and the many advantages thereof, will be understood from theforegoing detailed description thereof.

Some of the features and advantages of the closure of i the inventionare reviewed hereinafter.

The closure is made from a material of limited elasticity, preferablymaterials ba'sed'on synthetic resins or acid resistant rubber. The bodyof the closure is provided near its lower end with an externaldepression or groove extending around the circumference of the body, anda flange adjacent to and above said groove. The very end of the body issuitably shaped to facilitate the introduction of the body into thecontainer and to make it possible for the opening-confining edge to snapinto the groove, whereby the said flange of the body presses against thecontainer top.

.For containers with a neck, such as bottles, the closure of myinvention assumes an inversed form inasmuch as the body is provided nearits lower end with an internal groove which receives under tension, whenthe closure is forced over the neck, a corresponding protrusion providedon the bottle neck.

The cap which closes the closure body is secured thereto, preferably tothe lower end of the body, by means of an elastic connection whichprevents the loss of the cap without interfering with occasionaltemporary removals of the cap, as is required for partial emptying ofthe container.

The closure of the invention has important advantages over theconventional constructions. The container is filled through its opening,whereupon the closure is forced into place. The closure locks itself inposition and closes the opening tight to air and liquid, this being dueto the inherent tension of the closure.

The opening of the closure is closed by a tearing membrane whichguarantees genuineness of the contents of the container. The closureopening, after a partial discharge of the contents of the container, isclosed by an ordinary capor a screw cap. Either cap is permanentlyconnected to the body of the closure and cannot be lost.

Undesirab le effects of the conventional cork closures for bottles areavoided due to the use of chemically inert material.

The closure of the invention can be produced at low cost. It does notrequire special designs of the container opening, and it can beinstalled 'without the use of tools or fixtures.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my inventionin a few forms only, many changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention defined in the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container having a substantially flat topprovided with an opening, the wall of said opening having a dependingrelatively short flanged rim, a closure comprising a resilient dischargetubular body, said tubular body having a narrow discharge outlet and anintegral enlarged portion below said outlet and receivable in saidopening, said enlarged portion including a lateral peripheral flange atits upper end and a depending substantially frusto-conical skirt ofsmaller external diameter than said lateral flange, said skirt havingits outer surface at the juncture of the lateral flange therewithforrned-with an annular recess shaped to receive said flanged rim, theportion of said skirt below said recess constituting a collar of greaterexternal diameter than said opening, and said collar terminating in asubstantially mushroom-shaped lower end so as to facilitate insertion ofthe skirt through the top opening, said lateral flange being inoverlapping engagement with the top of the container, said flanged rimbeing snapped into sealing engagement with said recess. when the closureis inserted through the opening in said top, and the collar of saidskirt being exposed within the container and of substantially greaterlength than said recess and said 2. The combination of a closure andcontainer as set 4 forth in claim 1 wherein the discharge outlet of saidtubular body is closed by a hollow cap, said cap being integrallyconnected with the flange of said tubular body by means of a resilientlink.

3. A spout for a container adapted to be attached to a wall thereof andextend outwardly through an opening therein comprising, a spout base ofplastic material adapted to extend through said opening and including aninner end, and outer plastic flange integral with said base' and adaptedto bear against an outer surface portion of said wall adjacent to saidopening and make sealing contact therewith, and an inner plastic flangeintegral with said base and adapted to bear against an inner surfaceportion of said wall adjacent to said opening and make sealing contacttherewith, the inner and outer flanges each adapted to cover an areagreater than that of said opening so as to embrace the wall portiondefining the opening, the inner flange being of small width to provide astep construction and the outer flange being adapted to cover arelatively large area of said wall portion surrounding said area, thespout base being tapered in a portion extending inwardly from adjacentto said inner flange to said inner end to aid in inserting said baseinto said opening, the extreme inner end of the spout having a diameterless than that of said opening, the portion of the spout between saidflanges being relatively thick in comparison to the thickness of saidtapered portion in order to aid in preventing accidental inwarddistortion thereof.

4. A container, comprising, a wall having an opening defined by aninwardly turned wall portion, and a spout positioned in said openingincluding a spout base of plastic material extending through saidopening and including an inner end, an outer plastic flange integralwith said base and bearing against an outer surface of the wall adjacentto said inwardly turned wall portion and in sealing contact therewith,and in inner plastic flange integral with said base and bearing againstthe inner edge of said inwardly turned wall portion, the inner flangebeing of small width to provide a step construction and said inwardlyturned wall portion being located between said flanges, the spout basebeing tapered in a portion extending inwardly from adjacent to saidinner flange to said inner end to aid in inserting said base into saidopening, the extreme inner end of the spout having a diameter less thanthat of said opening, the portion of the spout between said flangesbeing relatively thick in comparison to the thickness of said taperedportion in order to aid in preventing accidental inward distortionthereof.

5. A spout for a container adapted to be attached to a wall thereof andextend outwardly through an opening therein comprising, a spout base ofplastic material adapted to extend through said opening and including aninner end, an outer plastic flange integral with said base and adaptedto bear against an outer surface portion of said Wall adjacent to saidopening and make sealing contact therewith, and an inner plastic flangeintegral with said base and adapted to bear against an inner surfaceportion of said wall adjacent to said opening and make sealingcontact'therewith, the inner and out flanges each adapted to cover anarea greater than that of said opening was to embrace the wall portiondefining the opening, the spout base being tapered in a portionextending inwardly from adjacent to said inner flange to said inner endto aid in inserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner endof the spout having a diameter less than that of said opening, and aclosure for the outer end of said spout secured to said outer flanges.

6. A container, comprising, a "wall having an opening defined by aninwardly turned substantially cylindrical wall portion, and a spoutpositioned in said opening including a spout base of plastic materialextending through said opening and including an inner end, an outerplastic flange integral with said base and bearing against an outersurface ofthe wall adjacent to said inbeing tapered in a portionextending inwardly from adjacent to said inner flange to said inner endto aid in inserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner endof the spout having a diameter less than that of said opening, theportion of the spout between said flanges being relatively thick incomparison to the thickness of said tapered portion in order to aid inpreventing accidental inward distortion thereof, the outer flange havingan extreme outer edge tapered rearwardly toward the 15 inner end of thespout, and a closure for the outer end of said spout secured to saidouter flange.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ford Feb. 3, Kaye Aug. 29, Bailey Nov. 2, TempleMar. 28, Battersby Mar. 3, Allen Mar. 2, Miller Aug. 31, Tupper Oct. 5,Stewart May 21,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 20, France Sept. 19,

